One Thousand and One Nights

by Richard Burton

  The merchant thought his words had pleased him and that he assented thereto; so he took the sword and following him, unseen, stood to see what should happen between him and his wife. When the jeweller came to the chamber-door, he heard his wife weeping sore for that Kemerezzeman had married another than her, and the maid saying to her, ‘O my lady, how often have I warned thee and said to thee, “Thou wilt get no good of this youth: so do thou leave his company.” But thou heededst not my words and spoiledst thy husband of all his goods and gavest them to him. Then thou forsookest thy place, of thine infatuation for him, and camest with him to this country. And now he hath cast thee out from his thought and married another and hath made the issue of thine infatuation for him to be imprisonment.’ ‘Be silent, O accursed wench!’ answered Helimeh. ‘Though he be married to another, yet needs must I occur to his thought some day. I cannot forget [the nights I have spent in] his company and in any case I console myself with the saying of the poet:

  O lords, cloth it betide you to give a thought to one Unto whose thought none other occurs save you alone?

  Now God forbid that mindless you of his case should be Whom thought of your condition distracteth from his own!

  It cannot be but he will bethink him of our loves and ask of me; wherefore I will not turn from loving him nor change from passion for him, though I die in prison, for he is my love and my physician, and my hope is in him that he will yet return to me and deal graciously with me.’

  When the jeweller heard his wife’s words, he went in to her and said to her, “ O traitress, thy hope in him is as the hope of Iblis in Paradise. All these vices were in thee and I knew not thereof; for, had I been ware of one of them, I had not kept thee with me an hour. But now I am certified of this in thee, it behoveth me to kill thee, though they put me to death for thee, O traitress!’ And he seized her with both hands and repeated the following verses:

  O fair ones, ye fordid my love so warm and true With sin nor had regard for what was right and due.

  How long to you, indeed, with doting love I clave! But, after this my woe, 1 1oathe the love of you.

  Then he pressed upon her windpipe and broke her neck, whereupon her maid cried out, saying, ‘Alas, my mistress!’ ‘O harlot,’ said he, ‘it is thou who art to blame for all this, for that thou knewest this vice to be in her and toldest me not.’ Then he seized upon her and strangled her.

  When he had done this, apprehensions flocked upon him and he feared the issue of his affair and said in himself, ‘When the merchant knows that I have killed them in his house, he will surely slay me; but I beseech God that He appoint the taking of my life to be according to the Law.’ And he abode bewildered about his case and knew not what to do; but, as he was thus, in came Abdurrehman, who had stood all this while, sword in hand, without the door, looking with his eyes and hearkening with his ears, and said to him, ‘[Fear not:] no harm shall befall thee, for indeed thou deservest safety. See this sword in my hand. I had it in mind to slay thee, hadst thou made peace with her and taken her back into favour, and I would have slain [her and] the maid, to boot. But, since thou hast done this thing, welcome to thee and again welcome! And thy reward shall be that I will marry thee to my daughter, Kemerezzeman’s sister.’ Then he carried him down and sent for the woman whose office it was to wash the dead: whereupon it was noised abroad that Kemerezzeman had brought with him two slave-girls from Bassora and that they were both dead. So the people began to condole with him, saying, ‘May thy head live!’ and, ‘May God compensate thee!’ And they washed and shrouded them and buried them, and none knew the truth of the matter.

  Then Abdurrehman sent for the Sheikh el Islam and all the notables and said to the former, ‘Draw up the contract of marriage between my daughter Kaukeb es Sebah and Master Ubeid the jeweller and [set down that] her dowry hath been paid me in full.’ So he drew up the contract and Abdurrehman gave the company to drink of sherbets, and they made one wedding festival for the two brides and paraded them in one litter on one and the same night; after which they carried Kemerezzeman and Ubeid in procession together and brought them in to their brides. When the jeweller went in to Abdurrehman’s daughter, he found her handsomer than Helimeh and lovelier a thousandfold. So he did away her maidenhead and on the morrow, he went to the bath with Kemerezzeman.

  Then he abode with them in pleasance and delight awhile, till he began to yearn after his native land: so he went in to Abdurrehman and said to him, ‘O uncle, I long for my own country, for I have there estates and effects, which I left in charge of one of my journeymen; and I have it in mind to journey thither, that I may sell my possessions and return to thee. So wilt thou give me leave to go to my country to that end?’ ‘O my son,’ answered the merchant, ‘I give thee leave to do this, and no blame to thee for these words, for that love of country is a part of religion; and he who hath not good in his own land hath none in other folks’ land. But, peradventure, if thou depart without thy wife, when thou art once come to thy native place, it may seem good to thee to abide there, and thou wilt be divided between returning to thy wife and sojourning in thine own country; so it were the better counsel that thou carry thy wife with thee; and after, if thou be minded to return to us, return and welcome to you both; for we are folk who know not divorce and no woman of us marries twice, nor do we lightly discard a man.’ Quoth Ubeid, ‘O uncle, I fear me thy daughter will not consent to depart with me to my own country.’ ‘O my son,’ replied Abdurrehman, ‘we have no women amongst us who gainsay their husbands nor know we a wife who is wroth with her husband.’

  ‘May God bless you and your women!’ exclaimed the jeweller and going in to his wife, said to her, ‘I am minded to go to my country: what sayst thou?’ Quoth she, ‘My father still had the governance of me, whilst I was a maid, and when I married, the governance all passed into my husband’s hand, nor will I gainsay him.’

  ‘May God bless thee and thy father,’ rejoined Ubeid, ‘and have mercy on the womb that bore thee and the loins that begat thee!’ Then he cut his thongs and betook himself to making ready for his journey. His father-in- law gave him much substance and they took leave of one another, after which Ubeid and his wife journeyed on without ceasing, till they reached Bassora, where his friends and kinsmen came out to meet him, doubting not but that he had been in the Hejaz. Some rejoiced at his return, whilst other some were vexed, and the folk said one to another, ‘Now will he straiten us again every Friday, as before, and we shall be shut up in the mosques and houses, even to our cats and dogs.’

  When the King of Bassora heard of his return, he was wroth with him and sending for him, chid him and said to him, ‘Why didst thou depart, without letting me know? Was I unable to give thee somewhat wherewith thou mightest have succoured thyself in thy pilgrimage to the Holy House of God?’ ‘Pardon, O my lord!’ replied the jeweller. ‘By Allah, I went not on the pilgrimage! But there have befallen me such and such things.’ And he told him all that had befallen him with his wife and with the merchant Abdurrehman of Cairo and how the latter had given him his daughter to wife and he had brought her to Bassora. ‘By Allah,’ said the king, ‘did I not fear God the Most High, I would slay thee and marry this noble lady after thy death, though I spent treasuries of money on her, for that she befitteth none but kings. But God hath appointed her of thy portion and may He bless thee in her! So look thou use her well’ Then he bestowed largesse on the jeweller, who went out from before him and abode with his wife five years, after which he was admitted to the mercy of God the Most High.

  The king sought his widow in marriage; but she refused, saying, ‘O king, never was woman among my kindred who married again after her husband’s death; wherefore I will never take another husband, nor will I marry thee, no, though thou kill me.’ Then he sent to say to her, ‘Dost thou seek to go to thy native land?’ And she answered, ‘ If thou do good, thou shalt be requited therewith.’ So he collected for her all the jeweller’s possessions and added unto her of his own, after the measure o
f his rank Moreover he sent with her one of his viziers, a man renowned for goodness and piety, and an escort of five hundred horse, who journeyed with her, till they brought her to her father, with whom she abode, without marrying again, till she died and they died all. So, if this woman would not consent to replace her dead husband with a Sultan, how shall she be evened with one who replaced her husband, whilst he was yet alive, with a youth of unknown extraction and condition, more by token that this was in lewdness and not by way of lawful marriage? So he who deemeth all women to be alike, there is no remedy for the disease of his madness. And glory be to Him to whom belongeth the empire of the Seen and the Unseen, the [Ever-]Living One, who dieth not!

  John Payne’s translation: detailed table of contents

  ABDALLAH BEN FAZIL AND HIS BROTHERS.

  The Khalif Haroun er Reshid was one day examining the tributes of the various provinces of his empire, when he observed that the tributes of all the countries and regions had come into the treasury, except that of Bassora, which had not arrived that year. So he held a Divan because of this and sending for the Vizier Jaafer, said to him, ‘The tributes of all the provinces have come into the treasury, save that of Bassora, no part whereof hath arrived.’ ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered Jaafer, ‘belike there hath befallen the governor of Bassora somewhat that hath diverted him from sending the tribute.’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘The time of the coming of the tribute was twenty days [ago]; what, then, can be his excuse for that, in this time, he hath neither sent it nor sent to show cause for not doing so?’ ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied Jaafer, ‘if it please thee, we will send him a messenger.’ ‘Send him Abou Ishac el Mausili, the boon-companion,’ rejoined the Khalif, and Jaafer said, ‘Hearkening and obedience to God and to thee, O Commander of the Faithful!’

  Then he returned to his house and summoning Abou Ishac, wrote him a royal letter and said to him, ‘Go to Abdallah ben Fazil, Viceroy of Bassora, and see what hath diverted him from sending the tribute. If it be ready, do thou receive it from him in full and bring it to me in haste, for the Khalif hath examined the tributes of the provinces and finds that they are all come in, except that of Bassora: but if thou find it not ready and he make an excuse to thee, bring him back with thee, that he may with his own tongue acquaint the Khalif with his excuse.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered Abou Ishac and taking with him five thousand horse, set out for Bassora.

  When Abdallah heard of his approach, he went out to meet him with his troops and carried him to his palace, whilst the escort encamped without the city, where he furnished them with all of which they stood in need. Abou Ishac entered the audience-chamber and sitting down on the throne, seated the governor beside himself, whilst the notables sat round him, according to their several ranks. After the salutation, Abdallah said to him, ‘O my lord, is there any cause for thy coming to us?’ ‘Yes,’ answered Abou Ishac, ‘I come to seek the tribute; for the Khalif enquireth of it and the time of its coming is past.’ ‘O my lord,’ rejoined Abdallah, ‘would thou hadst not wearied thyself nor taken upon thyself the fatigue of the journey! For the tribute is ready in full and I had purposed to despatch it to-morrow. But, since thou art come, I will deliver it to thee, after I have entertained thee three days; and on the fourth day I will bring the tribute before thee. But now it behoveth us to offer thee a present in part requital of thy kindness and that of the Commander of the Faithful.’ ‘There is no harm in that,’ said Abou Ishac.

  So Abdallah dismissed the Divan and carrying him into a saloon, that had not its match, set a table of food before him and his companions. They ate and drank and made merry, after which the table was removed and there came coffee and sherbets. They sat conversing till a third part of the night was past, when they spread Abou Ishac a bed on a couch of ivory, inlaid with glittering gold. So he lay down and the viceroy lay down beside him on another couch; but wakefulness possessed Abou Ishac and he fell to meditating on the metres of verse and composing poetry, for that he was one of the chief of the Khalif’s boon-companions and was eminently skilled in composing verses and pleasant stories; nor did he leave to lie awake and make verses till half the night was past. Presently, Abdallah arose, thinking Abou Ishac asleep, and girding his middle, opened a cupboard, whence he brought out a whip; then, taking a lighted candle, he went forth by the door of the saloon. When Abou Ishac saw this, he marvelled and said, ‘Whither goeth Abdallah ben Fazil with that whip? Belike he is minded to punish some one. But needs must I follow him and see what he will do this night.’ So he arose and went out softly after him, so that he saw him not, and presently saw him open a closet and take thence a tray containing four dishes of meat and bread and a gugglet of water. Then he went on, carrying the tray and followed by Abou Ishac, till he came to another saloon and entered, whilst Abou Ishac stood behind the door and looking through the chink, saw a spacious saloon, richly furnished and having in its midst a couch of ivory plated with glittering gold, to which two dogs were made fast with chains of gold.

  Abdallah set down the tray in a corner and tucking up his sleeves, loosed the first dog, which began to struggle in his hands and put its muzzle to the ground, as it would kiss the ground before him, whining the while in a low, weak voice. Abdallah tied its paws behind its back and throwing it on the ground, drew forth the whip and beat it without mercy. The dog struggled, but could not get free, and Abdallah ceased not to beat it till it left groaning and lay without motion. Then he took it and tied it up in its place, and unbinding the second dog, did with him as he had done with the first; after which he pulled out a handkerchief and fell to wiping away their tears and comforting them, saying, ‘Bear me not malice; for, by Allah, this is not of my will, nor is it easy to me! But it may be God will grant you relief and issue from your affliction.’ And he prayed for them, what while Abou Ishac stood hearkening with his ears and watching with his eyes, and indeed he marvelled at this case.

  Then Abdallah brought the dogs the tray of food and fell to feeding them with his own hand, till they had enough, when he wiped their mouths and lifting up the gugglet, gave them to drink; after which he took up the tray and gugglet and candle and made for the door. But Abou Ishac forewent him and making his way back to his couch, lay down; so that he saw him not neither knew that he had followed him and watched him. Then the governor replaced the tray and the gugglet in the closet and returning to the saloon, opened the cupboard and laid the whip in its place; after which he put off his clothes and lay down. But Abou Ishac passed the rest of the night pondering this affair nor did sleep visit him, for excess of wonder, and he ceased not to say in himself, ‘I wonder what can be the meaning of this!’ Nor did he leave wondering till the morning, when they arose and prayed the morning prayer. Then they set breakfast before them and they ate and drank coffee, after which they went out to the divan. Abou Ishac’s thought was occupied with this enigma all day, but he concealed the matter and questioned not Abdallah thereof. Next night, he again followed the governor and saw him do with the two dogs as on the previous night, first beating them and then making his peace with them and giving them to eat and to drink; and on like wise he did the third night.

  On the fourth day he brought the tribute to Abou Ishac, who took it and departed, without opening the matter to him. He fared on, without ceasing, till he came to Baghdad, where he delivered the tribute to the Khalif, who questioned him of the cause of the delay. ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied he, ‘I found that the governor of Bassora had made ready the tribute and was about to despatch it; and had I delayed a day, it had met me on the road. But, O Commander of the Faithful, I had a rare adventure with Abdallah ben Fazil; never in my life saw I its like.’ ‘And what was it, O Abou Ishac?’ asked the Khalif. So he acquainted him with that which he had seen the governor do with the two dogs, adding, ‘On this wise I saw him do three nights following, first beating the dogs, then making his peace with them and comforting them and giving them to eat and drink, what while I watched him, whereas he
saw me not.’ ‘Didst thou question him of the cause of this?’ asked the Khalif. ‘No, as thy head liveth, O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered Abou Ishac.

  Then said Er Reshid, ‘O Abou Ishac, I command thee to return to Bassora and bring me Abdallah ben Fazil and the two dogs.’ ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied he, ‘excuse me from this; for indeed Abdallah entreated me with the utmost hospitality and I chanced upon this thing without design and acquainted thee therewith. So how can I go back to him and bring him to thee? Verily, if I return to him, I shall find no countenance for shame of him; wherefore it were meet that thou send him another than myself, with a letter under thine own hand, and he shall bring him to thee, him and the two dogs.’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘If I send him other than thyself, most like he will deny the whole affair and say, “I have no dogs.” But, if I send thee and thou say to him, “I saw them with mine own eyes,” he will not be able to deny it. Wherefore nothing will serve but that thou go and fetch him and the two dogs; else will I put thee to death.’ ‘I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered Abou Ishac. ‘God is our sufficiency and good is He in whom we trust. He spoke sooth who said, “The calamity of man is from the tongue,” and it is I who sinned against myself in telling thee. But write me a royal letter and I will go to him and bring him back to thee.’ So the Khalif wrote him a royal letter and he took it and repaired to Bassora. When he came in to the governor, the latter said, ‘God keep us from the mischief of thy return, O Abou Ishac! How comes it that I see thee return in haste? Belike the tribute is deficient and the Khalif will not accept it?’ ‘O Amir Abdallah,’ answered Abou Ishac, ‘my return is not on account of the deficiency of the tribute, for it is full measure and the Khalif accepts it; but I hope that thou wilt excuse me, for that I have sinned against thee, and indeed this that I have done was decreed of God the Most High.’ ‘And what hast thou done, O Abou Ishac?’ asked Abdallah. ‘Tell me; for thou art my friend and I will not reproach thee.’ ‘Know thee,’ answered Abou Ishac, ‘that, when I was with thee, I followed thee three nights in succession and saw thee rise at midnight and beat the dogs and return; whereat I marvelled, but thought shame to question thee thereof. When I came back to Baghdad, I told the Khalif of thine affair, casually and without design, whereupon he charged me return to thee, and here is a letter under his hand. Had I known that the affair would lead to this, I had not told him, but this was fore-ordained to happen.’ And he went on to excuse himself to him.